Change maker



July 22, 1941. w TZ 2,250,051

CHANGE MAKER Filed Feb. 15, 1940 WILZZz'am/P er Pan er Sol/rte "ENTOR.

i l/5 ATTO Patented July 22, 1941 CHANGE MAKER William Patzer, Chicago,Ill., assignor to A. B. T.

Manufacturing Corp., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication February 15, 1940, Serial No. 319,022

6 Claims.

This invention has as its object the provision of improvements inautomatic change makers adapted for use with vending machines in whichcoins of different denomination may be deposited to effect delivery ofan article for an amount less than the value of the coin, the properchange being automatically returned to the patron.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to providein a vending machine including control means arranged to be operated byfive, ten or twenty-five cent coins to efiect delivery of a five-centitem, the combination of change making means including a coin storagereceptacle, a plurality of coin ejecting slides reciprocablecollaterally beneath said receptacle for joint and several operation toeject a different number of coins depending upon whether one or more ofthe slides are operated simultaneously, together with switch meansoperated by coins of five, ten or twenty-five cent denomination arrangedto operate the vending machine, with the switches for the ten andtwenty-five cent denominations being connected to effect actuation ofthe slides to return the proper change, depending upon the value of thecoin deposited.

A further and more particular object is the provision of a change makingdevice including a coin hopper, at least two slides reciprocablecollaterally beneath the hopper, one of the same preferably holding onecoin while the other holds three, electromagnetic means for effectingreslides for joint movement, and switch means controlled by theelectrically operated means uoon coupling of the slides to eiiectenergization of the electromagnetic means which moves one of the slides.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside incertain details of construction as well as the cooperative relationshipof the component parts of the illustrative embodiment describedhereinafter in view of the annexed drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of the change making unit;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section along line 33 of Fig. 1including parts of the vending machine;

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram.

As shown in Fig. 1, the change making unit includes a base member III, acoin hopper ll having a base portion l2 mounted in spaced relation tothe top of the main base member In, the latter base member, as seen inFig. 2, being provided with a coin discharge opening l3 which is ofisetwith respect to the bottom of the hopper so that the coins indicated atC in the latter are supported on the top of the main base member l0.

Means for ejecting coins in difierent numbers from the hopper includesthe provision of at least two collaterally reciprocable slides ll and I5(Figs. 1 and 2) which are mounted in superposed relation between thehopper base I! and the top of the main base ill to reciprocateindependently, this mounting being accomplished by the provision in bothslides of short longitudinally extending slots Ma and I511 engageablewith rollers l6 turning on spacer lugs l'l upon which the hopper baseportion I2 is seated in spaced relation from the top of the main base.

The lower or single coin slide it is provided with an offset arm portionMb to which is attached one end of a spring l8 having its opposite endanchored conveniently on a relatively stationary part of the assembly soas to urge the slide into a normal position as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.The offset arm is also provided with a stud l9 disposed to bear againstan end portion 20 of the upper or second slide to urge the latter intonormal position also.

Each of the slides l4 and I5 is provided with a coin pocket lie and l5crespectively, these pockets being aligned with the bottom of the hopperI I when the slides are in normal position so as to permit the lowermostcoin of the stack to rest on the top surface of the main base portion asheretofore described.

It will be apparent that if the lower slide I l is moved from its normalposition toward the right, as seen in Fig. 2. that the lowermost coin Cin the pocket or coin opening Me of the slide will be carried intoalignment with the coin discharge opening l3 to gravitate through thelatter for ejection onto a suitable coin return chute 22, shown in Fig.3. Likewise, it will be clear that if both slides move together from thenormal position seen in Fig. 2, the several coins resting in the pocketsthereof will be carried into position above the discharge opening l3 forejection in a similar manner, there being a leaf spring presser finger24 provided on the under side of the hopper base to bear against thetopmost coin in the pocket of the upper slide as the slides move intoregister with the discharge opening to facilitate expulsion of thecoins.

I It will be observed that the upper and lower three five-cent pieces.

slides are of different thickness, the illustrative arrangement beingsuch that the lower slide will accommodate one coin, preferably afive-cent piece, while the upper slide will accommodate Thus, it willappear that if the lower slide is operated alone, a five-cent coin willbe ejected; whereas four coins totaling twenty cents, will be ejected ifboth slides move together.

Means for effecting reciprocation of the slides jointly or the lowerslide |4 alone includes the provision (Fig. 1) of an electricallyenergized device in the form of a solenoid 25 provided with a plunger 28having its free end slotted and pivotally connected, as at 21, to oneend of a dog leg lever 28 pivoted, as at 29, to the underside of thelower slide I4, this lever having an offset arm 39 extendingapproximately in parallelism with the slide and having a nose portion 3|positioned to abut an end portion of the base member ID to lock theslide against movement when the same is in normal position and solenoid25 deenergized. Energization of the solenoid will attract plunger 25 andexert a pull on the lever 28. initially pivoting the latter a limitedamount to withdraw the end portion 3| from stopping engagement withrespect to the base, movement of the dog leg lever being arrested by astopping pin 32 on the slide l4, so that after the initial displacementof the lever the remaining stroke of the plunger 26 will draw the slideforward to effect ejection of a coin as aforesaid. Lever 30 locks byaction of spring 30a.

The change making unit is illustrated herein in an arrangement intendedto cooperate with a vending machine actuated by five, ten and twentyfive cent coins, it being therefore desirable that change shall be madefor ten and twenty-five cent coins, so that one five-cent coin will bereturned for each ten-cent coin deposited, and four five-cent coinsreturned for each twentyfive cent coin deposited. To this end the slideI4 is arranged to move independently and the slides I4 and I5 arrangedto move jointly, slide |4 moving alone to return the single coin carriedthereby, and slide l5 moving simultaneously with the latter slide M toeject the three coins carried thereby along with the single coin carriedby the latter slide, thus returning change in the amount of twentycents.

The joint movement of the two slides is preferably eflected byinterconnecting the two slides for movement together under the drivingaction of the electromagnetic means which reciprocates the lower slide.This interconnecting means, as shown in Fig. 1, includes a couplinglever 35 pivoted as at 36 on the upper slide I5. At one end the couplinglever is provided with a notch 31 adapted to be engaged by a couplingbar 38 fixed on slide I4. A spring 39 tends to urge the coupling leverinto the lowered dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to dispose thenotched pornotch 31 is out of alignment with the coupling bar 38, suchpositioning of the coupling lever being eifected by the provision on thelever 35 of a laterally projecting pin 42 which underlies the armature43 of an electromagnet 44 mounted on the hopper base. A relativelystrong spring 45 on the electromagnet urges the armature into thedropped position seen in Fig. 2, causing the same to bear against thepin 42 and rock lever 35 against the tension of its spring 39 into thefull line normal position shown. Armature 43 has a cam portion 43a forengagement with the pin 42 under certain operating conditions to beexplained. The pin 42 being guided by extension 43b of armature 43.

When the electromagnet 44 is energized, armature 43 is attracted, thusrelieving pressure from the coupling lever 35 so that the latter may berocked by spring 39 into position for engagement of the notch 31 withcoupling bar 38, so that if the solenoid 25 is then energized, theslides will move together.

Energization of the electro-magnetic main slidc moving means or solenoid25 is effected for movement of both slides by energization ofelectromagnet 44 to cause operation of the coupling means and thereafterto connect solenoid 25 with a source of power, this connecting beingeffected by the provision of a pair of contacts 46 and 41 closed bypulling up of the armature 43 and connected in a power circuit forsolenoid 25 in a manner to be explained in view of Fig. 4.

As depicted schematically in Fig. 4, the change making unit isincorporated in a vending machine adapted to receive five. ten andtwenty-five cent coins directed respectively into engagement withcorresponding switch means, operation of any of which sets into motioncertain vending mechanism including, f or example, an electric motor 50arranged for a cycle of operation to effect the vending of one five-centitem if any of the coin switches is operated. The five-cent coin switchincludes a contact 5| connected to one common power lead 52, and acompanion contact 53 connected by conductor 54 to one terminal of aholding relay winding 55, the remaining terminal of which relay isconnected by conductor 56 to the common return conductor 51 on the otherside of the power line. Conductor 54 extends also to one contact 58 of aholding switch operated by cam means driven by the vending machinemotor, so that contact 58 is held into closed circuit engagement withits companion contact 59 connected via conductor 60 to the common powerlead 52.

If an initial impulse be given to the motor 50, the holding contacts 58and 59 will be closed for the duration of one cycle of operation andtheretion thereof into alignment with the coupling bar ting against anotch portion 4| of the coin hop- I per base so as to lock the upper orsecond slide against accidental displacement resulting from frictionalcoupling between the. two slides when the lower slide moves.

The coupling lever 35 is pivoted against the tension of spring 39 into anormal position shown after automatically be opened. The initial impulseis accomplished by closing contacts 53 and 5| of the five-cent switch,which causes holding relay 55 to pull up and lock its own circuitthrough its switch 55a which connects power from the common conductor 56via conductor 56a to the motor, thus giving the latter the initialstarting impulse which will cause the cyclically operable or holdingswitch means 58-59 to close for a cycl of operation; opening of thelatter switch means at the completion of the cycle of operationdeenergizes the holding relay 55, thus stopping the motor.

The circuit connections for the ten-cent switch are such that thesolenoid 25 will be energized to operate the lower coin ejecting slideand return a nickel to the patron, initial energization of the infulllines in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the coupling motor and the holding relaybeing efiected in the same manner as described in conjunction with theoperation of the five-cent switch. To this end, the ten-cent switchincludes a pair of contacts BI and 62 respectively connected toconductors 60 and 54 to energize holding relay 55 in the mannerdescribed in explaining the operation of the five-cent switch contacts|53. The ten-cent switch includes a second set of contacts 63 and 64,the former of which is connected to the power conductor branch 60 andthe latter of which is connected by conductor 65 to one terminal of thesolenoid 25, the other terminal of which is connected to the remainingpower conductor 51. Thus, whenthe' ten-cent switch is operated, contactsGI and 62 cause the holding relay to pull up and lock, while contacts 63and 64 cause solenoid to reciprocat the lower or nickel slide to returnthe required nickel to the patron.

As seen in Fig. 3 each of th coin operated switches 5I53, etc. arenormally disposed in open circuit or ineiTectiVe condition. One contactof each of the switches is engaged by a nonconductive arm 80 on a coindrop lever 8| pivotally mounted adjacent the switches as at 82 with aportion of said lever extending into a discharge exit 1! of the coinchute in such a manner that a coin passing through said discharge exitwill effect rotation of the lever 8| counter-clockwise and cause th arm80 to urge the outermost contact into engagement with its associatecontact. While the closing of the coin switches is but momentary, theleverage provided by th lever 8| as well as the proportionate swing ofthe lever by action of a coin assures a reasonably positive contact, asfor instance the closing of contacts 63B4 will be of sufiicient durationto energize the coil 25 to effect movement of its armatur 26. Thisoperation of the armature 26 and the slide I4 is for but a relativelyshort stroke as will be observed in Fig. 2 and is so spontaneous withthe switch 6364 that a complete reciprocation of the slide l4 inejecting operation and its return to normal position is accomplishedbefore the lever 8| has returned to its normal position.

Operation of the vending machine, in the event that a quarter isdeposited, is effected in exactly the same manner as described inconjunction with the operation of the five-cent switch, so far as theenergization of the holding relay is concerned, there being a pair ofcontacts 10 and H respectively connected to the power branch conductors60 and conductor 54 for energizing holding relay 55, and the quarterswitch further including a second pair of contacts 12 and 13, the formerof which is connected to the power branch conductor 60, while the lattercontact is connected by conductor 14 to on terminal of the couplingelectromagnet 44', the remaining terminal of the latter being connectedby conductors l5 and 56 to the remaining side of the power line. Thus,operation of the quarter switch in addition to energizing the holdingrelay by closing of contacts ML-H, also energizes the coupling magnet 44by closing of contacts 12-13.

Energization of the coupling magnet 44 pulls up the armature 43, thusreleasing thecoupling lever for movement into coupling position andalmost simultaneously closing contacts 46 and 41, the former of which isconnected to one side of the power line 52, while the companion contact41 is connected by conductor 16 to a terminal of the solenoid 25. Thus,energization of the coupling magnet 44 first effects a mechan1cal.coupling between the two slides and then effects energization of theoperating solenoid 25 for the lower slide, resulting in the jointmovement of the two slides and ejection of four nickels. The ejectingmovement of slides l4-I5 by solenoid 25 is instantaneous with thepulling up of armature 43, the pin 42 carried on lever 35 of slide l5returning into th yoke provided between cam 43a and guide 43b prior to acomplete releasing of armature 43 by the coil 44.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig? 3, the change making unit ismounted so that the mouth of the hopper II is situated beneath thedischarge exit 11 of the five-cent .coin chute, there being a guidingapron l8 surrounding the mouth of the hopper tube for the purpose ofdirecting five-cent coins into the hopper to keep the latter suppliedwith nickels for chang making, the overflow from the hopper being guidedinto a suitable receptacle by the apron 18.

The various advantages and objects of the invention may be accomplishedby modifications of the particular embodiment described herein, and itis intended that the appended claims shall include all equivalentarrangements fairly coming within their call.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a change making device, the combination with a coin hopper, of apair of collateral reciprocable slides beneath said hopper and eachprovided with a coin pocket adapted to receive a certain number of coinsfrom said hopper, said slides being normally disposed with said pocketsin alignment with the hopper to receive coins therefrom and beingfurther arranged to eject coins from said pockets upon reciprocation,electromagnetic means for reciprocating a first one of said slides toeffect ejection of a certain number of coins, mechanism for couplingsaid first slide with the other slide whereby the latter will bereciprocated jointly with the former upon energization of saidelectromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic means coacting with saidcoupling mechanism to couple said slides, switch means associated withthe second electromagnctic means and adapted to be eifective, when saidsecond electromagnetic means is operated to couple the slides asaforesaid, to energize said first-named electromagnetic means.

2. In a change making device, the combination with a coin hopper, of apair of collateral reciprocable slides beneath said hopper and eachprovided with a coin pocket adapted to receive a certain number of coinsfrom said hopper, said slides being normally disposed with said pocketsin alignment with the hopper to receive coins therefrom and beingfurther arranged to eject coins from said pockets upon reciprocation,electromagnetic means for reciprocating a first one of said slides toeffect ejection of a certain number of coins, mechanism for couplingsaid first slide with the other slide whereby the latter will bereciprocated jointly with the former upon energization of saidelectromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic means coacting with saidcoupling mechanism to couple said slides, and means for maintaining saidcoupling mechanism in coupling condition for the duration of onereciprocation responsive to energization of the second electromagneticmeans as aforesaid, together with switch means operably controlled bysaid second electromagnetic means for energizing said first-mentionedelectromagnetic means following actuation of said coupling mechanism.

3. In a coin changing device including a gravity feed hopper, ejectingmeans comprising, in combination with said hopper, a first coin slidemounted for reciprocation beneath said hopper and including a coinpocket dimensioned to receive one coin from the hopper when said slideis in a normal position of alignment therewith, means for maintainingsaid coin in said pocket for a predetermined portion of movement of saidslide away from normal position, means providing a discharge exitthrough which said coin may pass from said pocket when the slide ismoved beyond said predetermined amount, a second slide above said firstslide similarly provided with a coin receiving pocket dimensioned toreceive a plurality of coins from said hopper, the coins in the pocketsof both slides being discharged through said exit when said slides aremoved jointly .beyond said predetermined amount, means for reciprocatingsaid first slide, a coupling device mounted on said second slide, springmeans normally urging said coupling device into coupling cooperationwith said first slide, an electromagnetic device including an armaturehaving a slot formation at one end thereof, pin means extending fromsaid coupling device into said slot and spring means normally urgingsaid armature, in a normal condition of cooperation with said couplingdevice, to maintain the latter into inefiective position, 'saidelectromagnetic device when energized attracting said armature to permitmovement of the coupling device into coupling position, and meansengaged by said coupling device when said slides have moved apredetermined amount out of a normal position for maintaining saidcoupling device in effective condition notwithstanding deenergization ofsaid electromagnetic device.

4. In a change making device of the class described and including a pairof reciprocable coin ejecting slides, actuating mechanism including anelectromagnetic and spring means operable to eilect reciprocation of afirst one of said slides,

a coupling lever carried by a second one of said' slides and operable tocouple said slides for joint movement upon energization of saidfirst-mentioned electromagnetic means, a second electromagnetic meansincluding a coasting spring and armature cooperable with said couplinglever to maintain the latter in ineffective position when said secondelectromagnetic means is not energized, Spring means for urging saidlever into coupling position when said armature is attracted uponenergization of said second electromagnetic means, means engaged by saidcoupling lever when said slides are moved a predetermined amount out ofnormal position to hold said lever in coupling condition independentlyof said second electromagnetic means, together with switch means closedby said armature when attracted to effect coupling operation of saidlever upon energization of said second electromagnetic means, whereby toclose an energizing circuit for said first electromagnetic means, sothat energization of the second electromagnetic means will effect acoupling of the slides as well as energization of the electromagneticmeans to efiect reciprocation of the first slide and the slide coupledwith it.

5. In a coin changing device including a pair of superposed collateralreciprocable coin ejecting slides with one of said slides adapted tomove alone or both of said slides adapted to be moved jointly to efi'ectejection of different numbers of coins, the combination of means foreifecting reciprocation ot a first one of said slides.

a coupling lever mounted on the second one or said slides and arrangedto be moved into coupling position with respect to means on said firstslide to couple said slides for joint movement, means yieldably urgingsaid coupling lever into coupling position, means releasably holdingsaid coupling lever out of coupling position, relatively stationarymeans with respect to which said slides move. and means on said couplinglever arranged to engage means on said relatively stationary means toprevent movement of said second slide when said coupling lever is inineffective or non-coupling position as aforesaid, whereby to lock saidsecond slide against movement when the same is not coupled with saidfirst slide.

6. In a coin changing device of the type including a hopper and aplurality of collateral reciprocablecoin ejecting slides cooperable withi said hopper to receive coins from said hopper for delivery to adischarge chute, the combination of actuating means includingelectromagnetic means arranged for operation to effect reciprocation ofa first one of said slides, a coupling lever mounted on a second one ofsaid slides, spring means normally urging said lever into couplingengagement with the first one of said slides,, second electromagneticmeans mounted in relatively stationary condition relative to said slidesand including an armature having a slot formation therein, pin means onsaid coupling lever and extending into said slot formation, and springmeans for said armature normally urging the same into engagement withsaid coupling lever normally to urge the latter into ineffectiveposition, switch means actuated by said armature when the latter isattracted to close an energizing circuit for said first mentionedelectromagnetic means and the attraction of the armature simultaneouslypermitting movement of said coupling lever into effective position priorto the actuation of said switch means, together with means engaged bysaid coupling lever when said slides are moved a predetermined distancefrom normal position to hold the coupling lever in coupling conditionuntil said slides are restored to said normal position.

WILLIAM PATZER.

